Name: Cheesy Celery Gratin Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 bunch celery (sliced into 1/4-inch thick slices (you can include the leaves; this is about 10 ribs of celery)); 1 medium onion (chopped); 1 large clove garlic (crushed); 1/2 cup vegetable stock (or chicken stock for richer flavor); 4 ounces cream cheese; 1/8 teaspoon black pepper; 3 tablespoons fresh minced parsley; 3 ounces shredded sharp white cheddar (or Swiss cheese (or a combination of both, which is my preference))

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Cheesy Celery Gratin features celery as a star ingredient and pairs well with any number of things, like grilled steak or roast chicken. If you’ve never tried it, you might be surprised at how celery takes on a subtly sweet flavor once cooked! This dish is naturally gluten free, low carb, and keto.

overhead view of cheesy celery gratin in white dish

Celery, that humble veggie always seems take the backseat in soups and stews. And it’s often thought of as nothing more than a vehicle for serving peanut butter or cream cheese! Surprisingly, celery is the star of this dish.

Let’s be real; of course the butter and a generous amount of cheese in this gratin doesn’t hurt either.

But if you’ve never made a dish where celery was a focus and not an afterthought, you’re in for a surprise.

When celery is cooked, it takes on a slight sweetness that can almost go undetected when overshadowed by more exciting things like meat and carrots in a stew. However, when celery is a focus ingredient, you actually get to appreciate its flavor nuances.

And bonus, celery is not stringy at all when cooked!

The Best Celery Gratin Recipe

I find that after cooking, celery takes on a hint of sweetness as well as nuttiness. Try it for yourself to see what you think.

As far as cheese goes for this recipe, cream cheese lends a rich, creamy texture to this dish.

For the shredded cheese, I recommend a combination of Cheddar and Swiss (Emmental is great here, and I think Gruyere would be too!). This is because I like the way Cheddar melts and I find that the subtle nuttiness of Swiss is a nice complement to the celery’s flavor. However, feel free to switch it up for your favorite cheeses.

Ingredients

Unsalted butter
Bunch celery
Onion
Garlic
Vegetable or chicken stock
Cream cheese
Black pepper
Fresh minced parsley
Cheddar or Swiss cheese (or a combination of both)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: A Quick Cook on the Stovetop:

Preheat the oven to 425F.

Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter and once melted, add the celery and onion and cook until softened, but not browned, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute more, stirring constantly.

Add the stock and bring up to a boil. Whisk in the cream cheese until smooth and then stir in the black pepper and parsley.

Step 2: Bake Briefly:

Transfer the celery mixture to a 1.5-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top.

Bake until the casserole is bubbling, about 10 to 15 minutes, and then broil it a couple minutes to brown the top if desired.

Serve.

Storage

Store leftovers wrapped in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can reheat Celery Gratin in the microwave or in the oven (covered at 375F until warm, about 10 minutes).

serving of celery gratin in individual bowl

More Dishes Where Celery is the Star

Cream of Celery Soup {Gluten-Free} from An Edible Mosaic
Quick Pickled Celery from A Farmgirl’s Dabbles
Sautéed Celery and Shrimp from White on Rice Couple
Spicy Blue Cheese Celery Slaw from An Edible Mosaic
Celery Salad with Dates, Almonds, and Parmesan from Cookie + Kate

What to Serve with Celery Gratin

Grilled Ribeye Steak Dinner
Baked Chicken Tenders
Tender and Juicy Beef Brisket
Add this side dish to your Thanksgiving spread! It’s a great gluten free, low carb, and keto option for people.

Let’s Connect

Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below. You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.

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This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on March 5, 2018. I updated it with more information on November 20, 2022.

I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind this blog. I love finding the human connection through something we all do every day: eat! Food is a common ground that we can all relate to, and our tables tell a story. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had.

Meet Faith

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3 Comments

Nora says:

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I’m interested in making this recipe. It has quite an amount of fat (I’m older) and I’m pondering a substitute for the cream cheese. Or…..I could just treat myself and not be concerned about the fat content. Thanks for the recipe.

Reply
1. Faith says:
  
  at
  
  Nora, You could try it with fat free cream cheese instead of regular cream cheese. Or you could replace half of the cream cheese with Greek yogurt. Or like you said, treat yourself. I hope you enjoy it! :)
  
  Reply
Jen says:

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I had leftover celery, cream cheese and chicken broth to use up so this recipe was perfect. I can’t say enough good things about it, seriously it was so easy and tasty. A new way for me to enjoy celery. It reminded me somewhat of macaroni and cheese which is always a good thing. Total comfort food. Thank you so very much for such an amazing recipe!

Reply

Best Quick & Easy Cheesy Celery Gratin Recipe